Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-04-30
A FATHERS ADVICE,
Some Excellent Notions Gathered From a
Sire's Experience.

Sire's Experience.
Wolverine Cyclone: Well, nv bow.
you are almost fourteen. Your voice
Is not as sweet as it used to be when
kissed your laughing lips and trotted
you on my knee, and 1t touches the old
mans heart to hear you joke about a
razor, but you shavers must shave
sometime.
1T is so angelic and harmless 10 be
little. can remember the first time |
saw You. Your eyes were big and blue,
you had the cunningest little pug nose.
and such chubby hands and feet all
covered with dimples-and how those
old women did act! And mamma (she
is dead now) cried and laughed at the
same time because | was So proud of
you.
All, well, it does make one feel young
again to 90 back over fourteen years.
seem to see the very pillow on which
| carried you about the room,
dancing and whistling to keep
from crying myself. We were all
so thankful, SO proud and happy,
for you would be such a mate for
bouncing Bob that the angels had sent
Us three years before. o, but he was
a noble iad-great high forehead, long
curly hair-tnere. you are crying now!
Yes, put your arm around my neck
and kiss me as you both used to then.
Our hearts broke when he died, but it
may be he is waiting for us in Heaven.
| hope mamma and all of us will meet
there some time. But it is hard!
That is right, get me my old fiddle
and will play II tune-something 10
drive away the gloom.
There, now, hang it up, for [ want
TO teal you something for your good.
just sit on the piano stool and | will
take the old rocker that used ID be
mammals.
In the first place, | want TO give you
some golden rules of life that | have
written down--that is--headings.
ltis a fathers blessing mixed up with
advice, and | know (although You are
n r%ollick'ng chap-just as once WASH
you WON'T laugh at me.
To ever be successful you have got
to have good health, the same rs you
have now, and You can never have that
if you disobey Natures laws. You
must eat like Il gentleman, drink like "A
gentleman, be IA gentleman, body and
soul, and that covers the ground.
OF course it is best to study physi-
ology and All that; but above pickles
or boiled dinner, meat or vegetables,
hot baths or cold ones, is being n gen
tleman. Keep pure and noble in
thought and body. In thi. respect
take example from innocent girls and
good women rather than rough boys
and rougher men.
You must have pluck and go-ahcad-
tiyeness. Learn to swim and skate,
stand on your head and turn somer-
saults in the play ground, jump the
pony over a ten-rail fence or race him
except on Sunday; lead or follow in
athletic sports or whatever else you do,
but be a gentleman. Take off your hat
to the ladies, learn to talk properly,
never touch tobacco or bad drinks,
don't swear or lie. or be coarse or vul-
gar, but grow up hearty and straight
like Il young maple.
Always respect old age. Respect
purity and religion. Stand by the
weaker boys and %girls-if need be fight
for them! Yes, | would pitch in if the
other chap were twice my size, for
somehow God tells you to help the
under boy in the fight, and a little hero
can always whip a big bully.
Then, my boy. you must study, You
will soon be n man-even now you are
almost up to my shoulder. o! the glory
and the wonder of thirteen years! But
what will you be at twcnt}P Either a
wreck or a man--that is. a gentleman.
Your head will be full of knowledge or
of Ignorance. You will be put up in
the world or--O! boy, let it not be in
the gutter!
Have ambition, pride, courage, faith,
hope and determination. Always stand
by the right and defy wrong. Dress
well, be upright, truthful. gallant and
jolly. Oh ser the respondent. help the
unfortunate. lift up the Iowly, and
never be naughty. arrogant or vain.
You want to always act so you will be
proud of Yourself. That is IL tirst-class
rule for everybody.
OF course your old dad don't expect
to live forever, and he wants to see
you take the right start and her go
ahead. 1t don't much matter whether
you 60 into the professions, become a
farmer or learn a trade. only if you
grow into a true mana gentleman.
The Boy Obeyed.
New York Sun: s'James," said the